Jay Ajayi, RB Philadelphia Eagles

After joining the Eagles, Ajayi averaged 12.8 touches for 75 total yards and 0.10 touchdowns per game in 10 games, including the Eagles’ postseason run. That equates to 9.7 fantasy points per game, which is about what Theo Riddick scored as last year’s No. 26 PPR running back. He’s currently the No. 23 running back off the board, so owners don’t seem to be too optimistic about Ajayi’s workload increasing despite LeGarrette Blount’s departure, which opens up 181 touches in the Philadelphia backfield. Ajayi’s role steadily increased toward the end of the season with touch totals of 12, 16, 14, 16, 18, 21 and 9 in the Eagles’ final seven games, including the postseason. He averaged 10.6 PPR fantasy points per game during that span, which are low-end RB2 numbers, and that was with a healthy Blount in the fold. Darren Sproles will certainly get some of the passing game work, but given his 5.29 YPC for the Eagles, Ajayi figures to get most of Blount’s carries. Super Bowl hero Corey Clement is the wildcard.

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The Philadelphia Eagles were missing a LeGarrette Blount type back in their running back-by-committee since Jay Ajayi was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Blount was the back that can handle the workload in the fourth quarter that can get the tough yards, similar to the role Ryan Mathews played in 2016.

Pederson found that player in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Josh Adams, who finished with nine carries for 61 yards. Averaging 6.8 yards per carry to lead the Eagles rushing attack, Adams had runs of 21 yards and 17 yards en route to the Eagles third-highest individual rushing performance of the season.

The Eagles head coach declared Adams will play the "Blount role" going forward.

"I think we have that guy. If you go back and watch the game, I called a few more third-and-2, third-and-3 runs that we converted, and of course Josh was in the game at the time," Pederson said. "Wendell [Smallwood] had some tough runs. He had a tough run at the end of the game to ice the game, basically.

Adams saw a bump in snaps in London and certainly made the most of them. With a bye week in Week 9, Adams could see a much bigger workload starting in Week 10 against Dallas. As we reported earlier today, Smallwood led the way in snaps while Clement seems to be the odd man out right now in the Eagles backfield. Clement could be battling injuries.

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Posted by Steve Andress

Friday, October 5, 2018 - 11:37am

Week 5 vs. Minnesota Vikings

Darren Sproles and Corey Clement still have not returned to practice, as of Thursday. That means Jay Ajayi only has to share the backfield with Wendell Smallwood if both are out again. Monitor their status, as more than a two-man RBBC will lower Ajayi's Week 5 prospects. The good news is Ajayi avoided the injury report this week in a match-up against a top-10 aFPA to RBs defense. 18 touches last week in this same situation with Smallwood show Ajayi is in line for RB2 numbers again this week, with upside from their if he finds the end zone.